Toy Trends

[Lizzie11Student]

Hi Everyone,

My name is Lizzie Wilkinson, I am a Fashion and Textile Management student at Nottingham Trent University currently writing my dissertation for final year.

My topic is based on toy trend forecasting techniques (due to having worked as a toy developer during my year in industry) and I was hoping to be able to get some parents perspectives on the key influences of toy trends.

Any input/ideas on the below questions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks very much,
Lizzie

1. What are the main factors that influence your purchasing decisions when buying your children toys? i.e price/character/play value/educational/ childrens requests etc.

1. What do you think is the main influence on your childrens choice of toys? i.e tv/film/friends toys etc.

1. Do you pay attention to top toys for Christmas lists?

1. Do you think there are any certain characteristics of toys that make them more popular with children?

[Misfitless]

Hi Lizzie

Hope this helps...

1. Play value. (Can I see them playing with this this time next year and the year after, or is it something they will tire of easily?)
   
   1.2) Does this toy allow them (or preferably) encourage them to use their imagination and/or be creative?
   
   
2. Adverts.
   
   
3. No, I would never buy a 'fad' toy, for example. Having said that, most of the toys I bought for Christmas are consistently in the top toy list, I'm sure (Lego, Playmobil.)
   
   
4. Not sure

[Lilicat1013]

I am not sure if I am much help to you, my older son is autistic and the younger a baby so I am in a slightly different position. I will answer anyway, I do buy a lot of toys!

1. I mainly buy on Amazon and reviews influence me heavily, if someone has said their child is autistic likes the toy I will usually buy it. My son can't ask for things so when choosing toys for him I look in to the things he has been playing with at nursery, what he loves at home and whatever new products Leapfrog has released (he loves those sort of noisy, electronic toys).

With my youngest, reviews are also important. He likes Mickey Mouse so I will choose Mickey Mouse things for him. I also look for things different than we already have, he has all my older son's toys to grow in to.

I do tend to like toys you can add on to for future birthday's and Christmases, it keeps the toy interesting and gives me something I can suggest to family when they ask. I like it even more if both boys can enjoy it. We had Duplo, Playmobil and wooden railway collections and we are just starting with Vtech Toot Toot stuff.

1. My older son likes figures he recognises from TV but only for a short time. He gets very in to programmes and loves them for a few weeks and then drops then and the toys that go with them so we don't buy character toys for him. Aside from that he likes toys that fit with his various obsessions or cause and effect toys.

My younger son likes anything with Mickey Mouse on, anything that makes a noise and anything his brother is playing with.

1. I like reading the top toy lists because it is interesting but it doesn't influence what I buy. If I saw a toy I was planning on buying anyway made the list I would buy it sooner in case it sold out.

1. Depends on the child, different children like different things. I can't think of anything that would be consistently popular.